Family Snippets

It's been CRAZY around here.  I thought it would slow down after Vanguard finished for the year, but then driver's ed took over.  Super extremely thankful that the teacher was kind and worked with Adam to get his driving done in two weeks, but some days we would show up and he would cancel, or I would get a phone call and he would cancel, or I wouldn't know what time Adam was supposed to be there to drive, only finding out with an hour or so notice.  Still again, very very grateful.  He was heading to camp for the summer June 2, with NYLT staff meeting all day June 1, so I had asked the teacher if it were possible to be done May 31.  He said he would try.  May 30 he told me he was going to test him the next day from 3-4:30 (driver's license place closes at 50, and is about 20 minutes away!).  When I dropped Adam off I told him I would be there at 4:15 just in case he gets done early.  At about 4:07 he called and asked if I was already on my way - turns out he was done, and the teacher had e-mailed me the completion certificate.  I was about halfway there and could pull it up on my phone, but didn't know if the driver's license people would want it printed.  Turned around quick to go home and print, raced back to get him, he jumped in the car, and we slowly creeped through traffic to get there.  Very agonizing.  But still, got there about 4:45.  We checked in and waited... they called the person right before us... we waiting a few more minutes... Then someone announced, "It's 5:00.  We'll have to finish everyone else another day."  Supermom (i.e. me) jumped up to the counter and frantically explained that my son was leaving for 10 weeks, and could they please please take care of him?  The lady asked me a few questions (when is he leaving, where is the camp, etc.), I think stalling a bit as people filtered out, then told me to sit down and they would see what they could do.  They went about whatever they were doing, more people filtering, people driving away.  Finally the lady called us up.  Long story short, she lectured us most of the time about planning for more time, even after I explained that he had finished his driving and finished the test and we immediately came over, but we got it done.  Hooray!

Adam and Sammy are both at camp right now.  Adam for the summer, Sam for the first week to help set up camp.  He gets to help one other week to cover for people on vacation.  He was ultra excited.  (If you can't tell.)

We always try to take a walk around the lake while we're there.  Lucky boys that get to hang out here!

The girls and I have been enjoying more free time.  Their cousins were in town, so we've been at grandma's house playing a lot while we could.  Early this week we took a walk on a trail near our home, went to a park, and came home and had a picnic in the backyard.  

Jamie is working away like always.  He gets his own turn at "girl time" later this month.

We have robins nested under our deck, currently with one baby robin hatched and one little blue egg that is a few days behind and may not do anything.  We love to quietly peek through the slats to see what's going on.  I checked a bit ago - momma was gone, baby was sleeping (tiny tiny feathers beginning after just a few days), little blue egg still there.

We're outside pumping up a swimming pool, and we just watched one of the robins fly to the ground, grab a worm and a couple other things, fly up to the nest, and swap with the other one.  I wasn't fast enough with the camera to catch whoever standing with the nest with his/her mouth full.

For a long time almost every morning Madeleine would give me a hug and tell me it's my birthday.  Lately it's been, "Look mom!  It's spring!"

Mother's Day 2013

Friday evening and Saturday most of the day I got to hang out with a bunch of great young men for an NYLT staff development meeting with Adam and Sammy.  Before I left Jamie asked about Mother's Day dinner, and I told him he and Melanie could figure out whatever they want to make.  On the way home, I got a text from Jamie saying that Mother's Day dinner would be Saturday evening instead - great idea!  Sundays are busy at our house, plus we want to go see our moms.

When I walked in the house there were flowers on the table - one bouquet of brightly colored daisies picked out by Erin and another of yellow roses picked out by Madeleine.  Dinner was delicious!  Steak with sauteed mushrooms and onions, potatoes, rolls, and pie and ice cream for dessert.  I was ultra tired (besides the long day, I didn't sleep well camping because I was cold!), so I headed to bed by 9:30pm.  That never happens, mainly because I love that quiet time at night.

Madeleine woke me up at 6:30 this morning to go potty, then crawled in bed and cuddled with Jamie and I for a bit.  Sweet Mother's Day wake up.

Jamie and Melanie made french toast for breakfast (a favorite!) with orange juice and Abuelita to drink (yummy chocolate milk with cinnamon in it) and I helped clean up.  I learned several years ago that I am far more discontent if I'm expecting to be served than if I'm celebrating my ability to love and serve my family.

After that Melanie gave me some earrings she made in activity days Friday (I've been working and working to get the second one in - a mother's love knows no bounds!), a little notebook, and a nice letter.  Carolyn gave me a cupcake covered in treats that she made at activity days (the kids very nicely helped me eat it), Sammy gave me a minifigure, Erin and Madeleine gave me little cards they made, and Adam told me he put up my tent and helped take it down (which was wonderful).  A month or so ago Jamie got a stereo for the big van and told me happy Mother's Day, but I got another extra present . . . a new garage door.

Last week I had pulled into the driveway and stopped, leaned down to gather up things to take into the house, and felt a bump.  I looked up, and the garage was really really close.  Argh!  I sent Jamie a picture with a "don't hate me," and he called laughing (a gift all in itself, even though it really wasn't funny).  Happy Mother's Day, a new garage door.

Still, I got my favorite Mother's Day present from him - a card with a poem that he wrote.  I didn't even remember that it was coming this year, so it was a pleasant surprise!

Read this a few days ago - some beautiful Mother's Day perspective from the bread lady I wrote about a few months ago.

Spring is Here!

It's been so wonderful to have some beautiful weather!  The first two days of sunshine the kids were out almost the whole day, and Carolyn and Sammy have the sunburns to prove it.  It's always a quick reminder that they need to lather up before heading outside.

They've been chalking the driveway and sidewalks with lots of art.  Melanie decorated the front steps - maybe not the best idea with everyone going in and out, but especially when their crawling nephew came to play.  He looks good in pink, right?

They were having a blast tracing each other, then they would turn them into big cartoonish characters.  I thought it was pretty clever and creative.

Madeleine turned 3!  She finally had her birthday, and we dragged it out, both intentionally and not.  Her birthday was Monday but Jamie would be gone, so we had presents and celebrated Sunday.  I didn't remember to decorate, so I did that Monday morning and we sang Happy Birthday to her a lot that day.  Melanie made cupcakes that evening, but with chocolate waffles with ice cream for dinner, then Adam's FHE treat, we didn't need any more treats.  So Tuesday we had the cupcakes.  The girls insisted on candles, and when she had a second cupcake Madeleine needed candles and singing all over again.  Funny girl.

It's getting closer to their next choir performance, and it's going to be another great one.  Carolyn gets to be Annie for two of the four performances.  I've seen a couple small bits of the practices and can' wait for the real thing.  The other Annie's mom made an Annie dress, and she brought it over today for Carolyn to try on.  Adam and Erin will be singing solos, and Melanie is part of a solo/duet thing.

We had a fun stake activity tonight, and with the giant line and waiting time, Erin was the only one that stuck it out for face painting.  Pretty!

Simple Mommy's Daybook

I've used this format a couple times on my other blog. A nice way to share some thoughts without having a major anything in mind when beginning.

Today, December 30, 2012

I am thinking . . . about my new calling as a Relief Society teacher, released from the nursery today (still in Webelos and scout committee chair).  When I asked what week I teach I was told that they rotate, so I'm looking forward to seeing the schedule so I can start reading up.  The conference talks are always great to discuss, and I read up on Lorenzo Snow when I first got the call and it would be exciting to share his words too.  I'll miss those littles in nursery, though, and I'm wondering how Madeleine will do with me not there.  She did great before, but now she's used to me being there.

I am hoping . . . Adam works into his new calling well, on the stake youth dance committee.  A pretty ironic calling for someone that has no desire to go to them.  He's only been to one, when a bunch of his homeschool friends were going to one in a different stake.  Adam has also been officially hired again to work at Camp Bartlett this summer.  No need to ease into that one.

In the kitchen . . . Melanie has been cooking up a storm.  She got a cookbook for Christmas, and she's already tried out several recipes.  Today she made some almond poppyseed bread - yum!  Fun to see her working on that talent.  I love that she's only 11 and I can send her to the kitchen to make us something for dinner.  I know I couldn't do that when I was her age.

I am reading . . . mainly the scriptures lately, trying to keep up with the part of the scripture challenge that I committed with myself to do.  After a long wait at the temple yesterday, I'm caught up again with where I'm supposed to be.  I'm also working on "In His Steps," a perfect read for December.  At the library the other day I picked up a few final Christmas picture books that finally got to us on the holds list.  We already read a  bunch, and found some new favorites this year.

I am looking forward to . . . I know the snow just arrived, but it would be nice if we could have a snow break so Erin could enjoy the bike she got for Christmas.  She took it for its first spin today and ended up slipping on some ice.  Hard to compare needing the moisture with your sweet little girl dying to ride her bike!

Around the house . . . the Christmas tree came down two days after Christmas.  The front room was pretty cramped, so it's nice to enjoy that extra space again.  We seem to have a lot more yarn hanging around the house since Christmas.  The three older girls wanted yarn and yarn and yarn to practice their new crocheting talents.  It ended up being whole family fun getting their skeins rolled into balls, so they'll run into fewer knots while they are in the middle of some project.

Carolyn (or half of her), Marni, and Adam rolling up yarn

I am creating . . . some fun crochet bags for the girls (not made with crochet, made with fabric, for their crochet stuff).  I made one for a friend, then Melanie and Carolyn both wanted their own.  Melanie wanted to give one to Carolyn for Christmas so she picked all the fabric, then I surprised her with one of her own.  I still need to finish them before they are ready to use, but very, very cute, even if I do say so myself.

Fun from last week . . . Friday evening we went to Zoo Lights and then to Temple Square.  The lights at the zoo were a lot of fun, but it was cool seeing the zoo at night and discovering who was awake and who wasn't.  True to pretty much every other zoo trip, we got to see something new - a snake shedding its skin.  It only took a few minutes, so it was perfect timing to catch it.  It was cooooolllld!  Thankfully the zoo had heaters here and there to stop and warm up at, and we warmed up with chocolate milk between the zoo and temple square.

"Oh great heater!  Give us your warmth!"

Warming up by dragon fire

The snake post shedding.

For a little adventure . . . a new Panda Express opened up in our area, and they had their grand opening yesterday, giving away free food all day.  The three oldest and I headed over and got in line just before 9pm., and left with our food at about 9:45.  Fun hanging out with my bigs.

Adam does his best to avoid pictures lately.  Had to be sneaky to get him.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . besides celebrating the new year tomorrow evening, I really need to look at what's happening when for January and get my calendar updated.

A favorite quote for the today . . . "Little did I know that in the days and years ahead on this campus, I would make decisions that would define the rest of my life" (Rosemary Wixom, "Coming to Know").  To explain, Jamie was listening to this talk yesterday in his car, then I took his car for a bit and finished the talk, then started it over at the beginning and didn't quite get to where I had started.  Shortly after I started listening she said something that got me thinking about some of my personal sacred places, then when I started it from the beginning I realized that that was a big part of what her talk was about.  It's wonderful to think about places that stand out as especially important in my life.  One specific was my family moving to Twin Falls when I was in high school.  The quote above continues with the following, and I feel exactly the same about my time there.  "It was here that I discovered I had my own beliefs, and I was faced with defending my faith.  I made lifelong friends.  My prayers became more sincere.  My testimony began to grow.  I learned it was a personal choice to stand up for my standards and stretch myself academically and spiritually."  A good talk.  You should read/listen to it.

Week in a Minute (or Two!)

Our lovely piano teacher/choir teacher/girls group leader had another wonderful day of cookie making and crocheting at her house Tuesday.  She is such a sweet and gentle woman, and I love my girls being around her.  There is a peacefulness in her home, even when I walk in at the end of their fun and it looks like this.  (Sadly, they had cleaned up a lot of their yarn mess before I got there.  A picture the week before would have been mucho better.)

Wednesday a little friend from the neighborhood was over playing with Madeleine.  They had played very quietly most of the time so I didn't think much about not seeing them for a while.  Suddenly I heard Erin say, "Madeleine!" with that certain pitch in it (I'm sure you know exactly what I'm talking about).  I found them quickly - Madeleine had decorated herself a bit, but she had decorated her friend in black marker almost head to toe (they were both mid-wardrobe change).  Can't tell you the relief I felt when I noticed it was dry erase marker, and flashed immediately to a friend writing about how they had used dry erase markers to draw on each other's faces because it is so easy to get off. After Madeleine's little experiment, I'm very happy to say that was.  Whew!

Wednesday is also my Webelos day, and this week we went on a super amazing field trip to my eye doctor's office.  We've been working on the Scientist activity badge, and part if it involved going to a place a scientist works and talking to them about how they use science.  Dr. Judkins was amazing with the boys.  I think he planned on just showing a few here and there things he does, like give a quick exam to one boy, and take a picture of one of the boys' eye, but they were so into everything that he ended up doing those on all the boys.  They LOVED it.  I would post pictures, but kiddo privacy and all that.

Adam and Sammy both interviewed to work at Camp Bartlett on Friday.  Adam was excited and confident.  Sam was on the nervous side.  We're supposed to hear sometime before Christmas.  We love going to the scout office, because we love visiting with the great people that work there.  It always reiterates to me what a great organization scouting is.

On our way home we pass an Arctic Circle, and it's hard to pass up 59 cent ice cream cones (and I get off easy being the hero mom!).  Before handing Madeleine's back I always give it a few good licks to get it started, but when we got on our way I was watching the road and not Madeleine, and apparently neither was anyone else.  When we finally did it was already a mess, so I tried to help at red lights (even slowing way down so we would hopefully hit them), but at one point the cone was just mush and she had a wad of ice cream in her hand.  Note to self - pay more attention to her ice cream next time.

Friday evening the kids had a choir performance with the Light Side Choir, full of homeschoolers ranging in ages from 5 to 16.  The kids did a wonderful job.  Carolyn and Erin sang beautiful solos, Adam was part of a little dancing choreography during one song, and Melanie sang in smaller groups a couple of times.  Sammy does his best to not have to be seen too much.  Madeleine played with her little marker friend and they both helped lead the music from their chairs once in a while.  Thanks again to our amazing piano teacher/choir teacher/girls group leader! 

Sunday (today) our kids sang "Heavenly Choirs," one of their choir songs, in sacrament meeting with the kids in another family also in the ward and choir.  They did a beautiful job, with Melanie singing a solo for the first part and the others all joining her on the second.  Melanie, Carolyn, and Erin sang the same song at the Barker family Christmas party tonight, with my cousin, Stephanie, accompanying.  I knew this song somehow before they sang it with the choir, but I still haven't been able to figure out how.  The words are "Heavenly choirs must have had children singing along when they came to the earth.  Jesus, I know, loves little children, so I imagine they sang at his birth.  Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Had I been there I would have sung.  Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Praise to the Lord, praise to His son.  Praise to the Lord, praise to His son."  Beautiful.

And hooray - snow!  In December it just feels like there should be snow, and it starts to get worrisome when there isn't any.  Jamie and I enjoyed watching our cute little girls playing in the backyard.  Madeleine started throwing snow at Carolyn and Erin, and they were so sweet to just take it, even when it went down coat collars.